Cutting-machine.



J. E. COLLINS.

CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3, 1913.

1,083,349. Patented Jan.6,1914.

I I J O /16 .COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0..WA5H|NGTON. D. C.

UNITED STATES ATEN T FQ JAMES E. COLLINS, OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS,ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATERSON,

NEW JERSEY.

NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF CUTTING-MACHIN E.

To all whom it may, concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES E. COLLINS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Beverly, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts,have invented certain Improvements in Cutting-Machines, of which thefollowing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, isa specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicatinglike parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to machines a distinctive feature of which is amember that is movable intermittently at the will of the operator toimpart pressure or deliver a blow to an object, and commonly comprisingrelatively movable members arranged to operate upon an objecttherebetween.

In its more limited application, my invention relates to a particulartype of machine commercially known as the clicking machine, of which anexample is shown in United States Letters Patent to Arthur Bates, No.921,503, granted May 11, 1909. Such machines, as usually constructed,include a stock supporting bed, and a presser member that is movableover the bed to an operative position with respect to a die on the bedand subsequently movable automatically at the will of the operator toforce the die through the stock. For illustrative purposes my inventionwill be shown and described as embodied in a machine of this character,although it is not thus limited in scope but in its broader aspects, aswill be evident, is applicable to various other constructions of thegeneral type referred to.

My invention relates, more particularly, to the means for controllingthe operation of such machines, and the general object is to providemeans whereby the operating mechanism may be actuated more readily andwith the expenditure of less time and effort on the part of the operatorthan by prior constructions.

An important feature of the invention resides in the provision of amanually operative controlling member constructed preferably for rotaryor turning movement about an axis and arranged to actuate by suchmovement the mechanism for effecting an operation of the machine. Asapplied to the clicking machine this member will preferably serve alsoas the means whereby the operator moves the presser member into op-Speeification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 3, 1913.

Patented Jan. 6, 1914. Serial No. 746,031.

erative position, and will be so arranged that as the operator graspssaid member and swings the presser member thereby, movement of thecontrolling member relative to that of the presser member will follow bya naturaland easy movement of the operators hand, or may if desired beeffected simultaneously with the swinging of the presser member so thatthe operation of the machine will take place at the instant when thepresser member arrives at the desired operative position.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear from thefollowing detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a clickingmachine with my invention embodied therein. Fig. 2 is a view, partly invertical section, showing the structural details of the controllingmember.

The frame 2 of the machine supports a cutting block or bed 4: and hasbearings 6 and 8 for a vertically and rotatably movable post 10 to whichis secured an arm or presser member 12. In the customary operation ofthe machine a sheet of stock, such as upper leather for use in themanufacture of boots or shoes, is placed upon the bed 1 and a suitabledie arranged in the desired position thereon. The member 12 is normallyupraised above the plane of the bed a suflicient distance to clear thedie, and may be swung to one side with the post 10 as a pivot so as toafford an unobstructed view of the bed. After the die is placed, themember 12 is swung to a position directly thereabove and mechanism isactuated which causes the post and the member 12 to descend and forcethe die through the stock and then to reascend to their former position.The bed 1 and the arm 12 thus constitute presser members that arerelatively movable into and out of operative relation to each other andmovable relatively also to operate upon the die. The operating mechanismfor the post 10 may be of any desired construction, such for example asthat disclosed in the patent to Bates previously referred to, and is notillustrated in detail. It includes, as shown, a clutch device 14, whichpreferably comprises a one revolution non-repeating clutch and isarranged to be actuated through means that includes a rod 16 connectedto a lever 18 which is pivoted to the frame at 20 and provided with aring member 22 loosely encircling the post, the ring member havingswiveled in a circumferential recess thereof a collar 24C to which isattached a rod 26 that extends forwardly over the presser member 12. Thering member, collar and rod thus constitute an extension of one end ofthe lever 18 so that by a depression of the forward end of the arm 26the clutch may be actuated, while the collar 24: may turn about thepivotal axis of the post 10 and permit the arm 26 to move with themember 12 and assume any angular position of the latter withoutdisturbing its operative relation to the lever 18. A spring 27 attachedto the lever 18 tends to hold the rod 26 in raised position. Thesefeatures are substantially such as are found in the commercial type ofclicking machine and need no further de scription.

For imparting to the rod 26 its actuating movement I have provided acontrolling member comprising in the preferred form shown an uprighthandle 28 formed with an annular depression 30 for receiving the forkedend of the rod 26 and having a depending cylindrical sleeve 32. Fixedupon. the forward end of the presser member 12 is a cylindrical member34 which is arranged to be closely embraced by the sleeve 32. The

c linder 34L is formed with a cam roove 36 and the sleeve is providedwith a screw 38 projecting inwardly therethrough and having acylindrical end portion upon which is carried a roller 40 movable withinthe cam groove. The cylinder 84 is provided preferably with a centralrecess in which is seated a spring 42, the opposite end of whicharranged to bear upon the controlling member so as to maintain thelatter at its limit of upward movement determined by the groove 36 inengagement with the roller L0. The spring 12, it will be noted, assiststhe action of the spring 27, and in case the latter is of suflicientstrength the spring 12 may be dispensed with. The purpose of thesesprings is to maintain the parts of the actuating mechanism normally ininactive position, but they should be sufficiently light to permitactuating movement thereof when required with the least possible efforton the part of the operator. A rod 4L4 projects upwardly through thecentral part of the recess in the cylinder 34 and fits closely in alongitudinal recess 46 in the controlling member, thereby serving tokeep the spring in proper position and assisting in centcring thecontrolling member with reference to the cylinder 34:. Holes 1-8 serveto maintain atmospheric pressure in the space within the sleeve 32, anda hole 50 in the end of the handle performs a similar func 'tion for therecess 16.

he groove 36, the sides of which act as cam. surfaces to guide theroller 40, is preferably formed with diametrically opposite lower limitsat the sides of the cylinder 34: from which portions of the groove curveupwardly and forwardly about the cylinder to a common meeting pointdisposed directly at the front with reference to the presser member 12.The groove thus presents two symmetrical portions extending downwardlyfrom the common point toward the presser member and each curving aboutthe cylinder through approximately ninety degrees of are.

With this construction it will be evident that any turning movement ofthe handle 28 about its upright axis in either direction from the normalinactive position shown in Fig. 2will cause a corresponding proportionalbodily downward movement thereof by virtue of the engagement of theroller a0 carried by the sleeve 32 with the cam surfaces of the cylinder3st presented at the sides of the groove 36.

The operation of the improved machine will be clear from the precedingdescription. \Vi'th the presser member swung toward either side of thebed, the operator first places the die in the selected position upon thestock and then grasps the handle 28 and swings the presser member to aposition above the die. By a slight turning movement of the hand whichfollows easily and naturally the swinging movement of the arm inbringing the presser member to position, he may then effect the downwardmovement of the controlling member, which serves through the describedconnections to trip the clutch and cause an operation of the machine;after which the controlling member may be permitted to returnautomatically and quickly to its normal position. The direction ofturning movement of the handle which will be most feasible or naturalfor the operator in any case will depend upon the first position of thepresser member, at one side or the other of the location of the die, andthe consequent direction of movement of the arm necessary to swing it tooperative position. It is important to note, further, that in the handof an experienced operator the movement of the controlling member may berendered, in a sense, automatic as an incident of the operation of svinging the presser member into position. Such an operator, by graspingthe handle and holding it firmly as he swings the presser member, mayefiect simultaneously without conscious effort sufiicient turningmovement of the handle with respect to the "presser member to finallytrip the clutch at the instant when the presser member arrives atoperative position above the die. For varying ranges of movement of thepresser member the operator may, with practice, easily acquiresuflicient skill to correlate almost unconsciously the turning movementof his hand to the extent of swinging move ment of his arm so as toeffect simultaneously such a turning movement of the handle as isnecessary to trip the clutch at the proper pointwith reference to themovement of the presser member.

By the expression operative position, as used herein with reference tothe presser member is meant a posit-ion in which the presser member maybe operated to impart pressure or deliver a blow at the required point,as for example upon a die placed in some selected position upon thestock and the expression inoperative posit-ion signifies such a positionof the member that the pressure or blow would not be delivered at thepoint required.

It should be understood that the cylinder 34: with its cam groove andthe sleeve 32 with its engaging member are to be regarded broadly asrelatively movable parts and that it is practically immaterial which ofthese members is arranged for bodily movement with the handle. Othervariations also from the precise details of structure in the illustrated preferred embodiment of the invention are within the spirit andscope of the appended claims and will be obvious to those skilled in theart to which the invention relates.

Having described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States is the following:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a pressermember and mechanism for effecting automatically an operative movementthereof, of a manually operative controlling member connected with saidmechanism and arranged for movement bodily in one direct-ion to actuatethe same and also for rotary movement, and means whereby a rotarymovement of the controlling member serves to effect automatically saidactuating movement thereof.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a pressermember and mechanism for effecting automatically an operative movementthereof, of a manually operative controlling member connected with saidmechanism and arranged for bodily rectilinear movement to actuate thesame and also for rotary movement, and means whereby a rotation of saidmember in either direction serves to effect automatically said actuatingmovement thereof.

3, In a machine of the class described, the combination with a pressermember and mechanism for effecting automatically an operative movementthereof, of a manually operative controlling member connected with saidmechanism and arranged for movement bodily in one direction to operatethe same and also for limited rotary movement, means to retain thecontrolling member normally at a point intermediate the limits of itsrotation, and means whereby a rotation of said member in eitherdirection from said point serves to effect automatically said actuatingmovement thereof.

4.. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a pressermember and mechanism for efiecting automatically an operative movementthereof, of a manually operative controlling member connected with saidmechanism and arranged for movement bodily in one direction to actuatethe same and also for rotary movement, and means whereby a rotarymovement of the controlling member serves to effect automatically saidactuating movement thereof, said means comprising two relatively movablemembers one of which is carried by the controlling member, one of saidmembers presenting a cam surface inclined to the direction of bodilymovement of the controlling member and the other having means to engagesaid cam surface.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a pressermember and mechanism for effecting automatically an operative movementthereof, of a manually operative controlling member connected with saidmechanism and arranged for movement bodily in one direction to actuatethe same and also for rotary movement, and means whereby a rotation ofsaid member in either direction serves to effect automatically saidactuating movement thereof, said means comprising two relatively movablemembers one of which is carried by the controlling member, one of saidmembers presenting a cam surface formed with two portions diverginginclined to the direction of actuating movement of the controllingmember, and the other member having means arranged to engage saidsurface normally at the point of divergence.

6. In a machine of the class described, the

from a common point and combination with a presser member and mechanismfor effecting automatically an operative movement thereof, of a manuallyoperative controlling member connected with said mechanism and arrangedfor movement bodily in one direction to actuate the same and also forrotary movement, and means whereby a rotary movement of the controllingmember serves to effect automatically said actuating movement thereof,said means comprising a cylindrical member formed with a cam grooveinclined to the direction of bodily movement of the controlling member,and a sleeve carried by the controlling member arranged to embrace saidcylindrical member and movable with respect thereto, said sleeve havingmeans arranged to travel in the cam groove.

- 7. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a pressermember and mechanism for effecting automatically an operative movementthereof, of a manually operative controlling member mounted upon the prer member and connected with said mechanism, said controlling-memberbeing arranged for bodily movement with respect to the presser member toactuate said mechanism and also for rotary movement, and means whereby arotary movement of the controlling member serves to client automaticallysaid actuating movement thereof.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a stocksupporting bed, a presser member and mechanism for effectingautomatically an operative movement of the presser member with respectto the bed, of a manually operative controlling member mounted upon thepresser member and connected with said mechanism, said controllingmember being arranged for bodily movement with respect to the pressermember to actuate said mechanism and for rotary movement in the path ofsaid bodily movement, and means whereby a rotary movement of? thecontrolling member in either direction serves to eiiect said actuatingmovement thereof.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination of pressermembers arranged for relative bodily movement into and out of selectedcooperative relation, means carried by and movable with one of saidmembers whereby such. movement may be effected, mechanism. for effectingautomatically a relative pressing movement of said members, and meanswhereby a turning movement of said first named means about an axistransverse to the first rained path of movement of its carrying memberserves to actuate said mechanism and cause the relative pressingmovement of said mem ers.

10. in a machine or the class described, the combination of a stocksupporting bed, a presser member movable into and out of selectedoperative position with respect to said bed, means carried by thepresser member whereby said movement may be effected, mechanism foreffecting a relative pressing movement of the presser member and bed,and means whereby a turning movement of said first named means about anaxis transverse to the first named path oi'movemcntof the presser memberserves to actuate said mechanism and cause the relative pressingmovement or said members.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a bed, apresser member movable into and out of differen operative positions withrespect to said bed, a controlill. member carried by the presser memberwhereby such movement may be manually eflected, mechanism for effectingan operative movement of the presser member, said controlling memberbeing movable in one direction with respect to the presser member toactuate said mechanism, said controlling member being arranged also forturning movement with respect to the presser member, and means wherebythe turning movement of the controlling member serves to effectautomatically said actuating movement thereof.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a bed, apresser member movable into and out of different operative positionswith respect to the bed, a controlling member carried by the pressermember whereby such movement may be manually effected, mechanism foreiit'ecting an operative movement of the presser member with respect tothe bed, said controlling member being arranged for independent movementtoward and from the presser member and for turning movement about anaxis in line with the direction of its movement toward the pressermember, means whereby the movement of the controlling member toward thepresser member serves to actuate said mechanism and cause an operativemovement of the presser member with respect to the bed, and meanswhereby the turning movement of the controlling mem ber serves to effectautomatically said actuating movement thereof,

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a bed,apresser member movable to a selected operative position with respect tothe bed from a position at one side of said selected position, a controlling member carried by the presser member whereby such movement maybe manually efi'ected, mechanism for effecting an operative movement of:the presser member toward the bed, said controlling member being movablein either direction about an axis transverse to the first named path ofmovement of the presser member, and means whereby a movement of thecontrolling member in either direction about said axis serves to actuatesaid mechanism for effecting an operative movement of the pressermember.

1%. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a bed, apresser member movable from a position at one side of a die on the bedto an operative position with respect to the die, a controlling membercarried by the presser member whereby such movement may be manuallyeiiected, mechanism for eltecting an operative movement of the pressermember toward the bed, said controlling member being movable in onedirection with respect to said presser member to actuate said mechanism,said controlling member being arranged also for turning movement ineither direction from a normal intermediate position about an axistransverse to the first named path of movement of the presser member,and means whereby the turning movement of the controlling member servesto effect automatically said actuating movement thereof.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a bed, apresser member mounted to swing from an inoperative to an operativeposition with respect to a die on the bed, a manually operativecontrolling member arranged to swing with the presser member wherebysuch movement of the latter may be effected, said controlling memberbeing arranged for rotary movement with respect to the pressermember,'mechanism for effecting automatically an operative movement ofthe presser member with respect to the bed, and means whereby the ro-'tary movement of the controlling members serves to actuate saidmechanism.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a bed, apresser member pivoted to swing from an inoperative to an operativeposition with respect to a die on the bed, a controlling member carriedby the presser member whereby such movement may be manually efiected,mechanism for effecting an operative movement of the presser membertoward the bed, said controlling member being arranged for turningmovement about an axis transverse to the first named path of movement ofthe presser member and for movement automatically toward and from thepresser member in proportion to the extent of such turning movement,means to keep the controlling member normally at the limit of itsmovement in a direction away from the presser member, and means wherebya movement of the controlling member toward the presser member serves toactuate said mechanism for effecting an operative movement of thepresser member toward the bed,

17. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a bed, apresser member movable to different operative positions with respect tothe bed, a handle carried by the presser member whereby such movementmay be effected, mechanism for effecting an operative movement of thepresser member toward the bed, said handle being movable toward and fromthe presser member, connections whereby the handle serves to actuatesaid mechanism on its movement toward the presser member, said handlebeing movable also with respect to the presser member about an axisparallel to its path of movement toward said member, and means wherebythe turning movement of the handle about its axis serves to effectautomatically said actuating movement thereof, said means including twomembers, one fixed with respect to the presser member and the othermovable with the handle, one of said members presenting a cam surfaceinclined to the direction of actuating movement of the handle and curvedabout the axis of rotary movement of said handle, and the other memberhaving means to engage said cam surface.

18. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a bed, apresser member movable to a selected operative position with respect tothe bed from a position at one side of said selected position, acontrolling member carried by the presser member whereby such movementmay be manually effected, said controlling member being ar ranged forrotary movement with respect to the presser member, mechanism foreffecting an operative movement of the presser member with respect tothe bed, and means whereby a rotary movement of the controlling memberof substantially ninety degrees serves to actuate said mechanism.

19. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a bed, apresser member movable from a position at one sideof a die on the bed toan operative position with respect to the die, a controlling membercarried by the presser member whereby such movement may be manuallyeflected, said controlling member being arranged for rotary movementwith respect to the presser member, mechanism for effecting an operativemovement of the presser member with respect to the bed, means forretaining the controlling member normally in a predetermined angularposition, and means whereby a rotary movement of said member ofsubstantially ninety degrees in either direction from said normalposition serves to actuate said mechanism for efiecting an operativemovement of the presser member.

:20. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a bed, apresser member mounted to swing about an upright axis from a position atone side of a die on the bed to an operative position with respect tothe die, a manually operative controlling member arranged to swing withthe presser member whereby such movement of the latter may be effected,mechanism for effecting automatically an operative movement of thepresser member with respect to the bed, said controlling member beingconnected with said mechanism and arranged for movement bodily withrespect to the presser member for actuating said mechanism, saidcontrolling member being arranged also for rotary movement, and meanswhereby a rotary movement of the controlling member of approximatelyninety degrees serves to eifectsaid actuating movement thereof so as tocause the operation of the presser member.

21. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a bed, apresser member mounted to swing from a position at one side of a die onthe bed to an operative position with respect to the die, a manuallyoperative cont-rolling member arranged to swing with the presser memberwhereby such movement of the latter may be effected, mechanism foreffecting automatically an operative move- @3 masses ment of the pressermember with respect to the bed said controlling member being connectedwith said mechanism and arranged for movement bodily in one directionwith respect to the presser member. for actuating said mechanism, saidcontrolling member being arranged also for rotary movement, and meanswhereby a rotary movement of the controlling member of approximatelyninety degrees in either direction from its normal position serves toeffect said actuating movement thereof so as to cause the operation ofthe presser member.

22. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a bed, ofa presser member movable over the bed from inoperative to operativeposition, mechanism for eifecting an operative movement of the pressermember toward the bed, and means for actuating said mechanism comprisinga member movable with the presser member and arranged to be grasped bythe hand of the operator, said member being movable relatively to thepresser member in such manner that as the presser member moves intooperative position the relativemovement of the hand of the operator andthe presser member incident to such movement of the presser member willserve to efiect the necessary movement of said actuating member to causean operation of the machine.

23. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a bed, ofa presser member movable over the bed from inoperative to operativeposition, mechanism for effecting an operative movement of the pressermember toward the bed, and means for actuating said mechanism comprisinga member carried by the presser member and arranged to be grasped by thehand of the operator for moving the presser member into operativeposition, said member being movable relatively to the presser member insuch manner that as the presser member is moved into operative positionthe relative movement of the hand of the operator and the presser memberincident to said movement of the presser member will serve to effeet thenecessary movement of said actuating member to cause an operation of themachine.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of l two subscribing witnesses,

' JAMES E, COLLINS.

\Vitnesses HowAnD O. Wmstow,

WI IA B. Kine.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents; each, byaddressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washing-temp. 0,?

